About Nine Years Theatre

Nine Years Theatre is a Mandarin theatre company embedded in multicultural Singapore. We regard Chinese culture as the foundation of our work rather than the centre of our practice. We present mainly Mandarin productions, as well as multilingual and inter-disciplinary works occasionally, all with English supertitles. Our works are recognised for being artistically grounded, culturally challenging, for touching on universal themes and care for humanity. Therefore, we have always connected with audiences from diverse backgrounds through our work.

We believe in entertaining our audience, but in ways that are honest and meaningful. We hope to engage our audiences beyond performance, and to share our knowledge with the larger community. We are invested in engaging in challenging and dialogic partnerships with local and international collaborators in meaningful ways.

A charity with IPC status, Nine Years Theatre is supported by the National Arts Council under the Major Company Scheme for the period from 1 April 2019 to 31 March 2022.

Who Are We?

A major player in the Singapore Mandarin theatre scene, and one that intends to stay.

A champion of the practice and research of actor training.

A company that works with a regular group of actors, known as the NYT Ensemble.

A maker of productions that call your soul to work.

What Are Our Beliefs?

That we will not create without training, and that we will train in order to create.

That our work will always benefit from it being difficult to make.

That the audience should not merely consume art, but be given the opportunity to discuss art.

That Theatre is always about people.

What Are Our Aims?

To build the Nine Years Theatre Ensemble - a group of actors who train together regularly, in a systematic way, over an extended period of time.

To create high quality stage productions that are consistent, grounded and integrated.

To research, share and champion the notion and practice of actor training.

To engage the audience in the discussion of art.

To continuously develop new modes, methods and models in our work.

To build and promote a Singapore presence on international platforms.

What is Our Dream?

For Nine Years Theatre to have its own full-time Ensemble and a home with spaces for training, creation and performance.

Things We Create

Production: Re-imagination of classic works - We love to see things afresh!

Production: Original works - Take an idea, make a play.

Classes: Suzuki Method of Actor Training and Viewpoints - Pure, hard work.

Classes: Mandarin diction and speech - Because the audience deserves nothing lesser.

Training: Free training platforms for the artistic community - Because it’s about giving to the people.

Our Past and Present Partners

Commissioning Partners - Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre, Esplanade Huayi Festival, Singapore International Festival of the Arts, Macau Arts Festival, M1 Singapore Fringe Festival

Artistic Partners - SITI Company (New York), T.H.E. Dance Company (Singapore), The Necessary Stage (Singapore), Centre42 (Singapore), Contemporary Legend Theatre (Taiwan)

Corporate Partners - Pek Sin Choon, CornerStone Wines, Raffles Studio, BooksActually, Samuel Seow Law Corporation, City Book Room, Woods in the Books, Going Om, Tolido's Espresso Nook, Hook on Books, Hotel Royal, M.A.C Cosmetics

Institutional Partners - TrendLit Publishing, Hong Leong Foundation, Lee Foundation, BinjaiTree, Kwan Im Thong Hood Cho Temple, Promote Mandarin Council, Institut Français Singapour, Ambassade de France à Singapour, Japan Foundation